Worship Pastor / Composer Travis L. Boyd and his wife, Cynthia, provide inspiration and resources for the worship community and all believers through sharing the blessings of worship, faith, family, ministry, music, love, & life. We also share information about Worship Sounds Music, which can be found on our Worship Sounds website at worshipsounds.com ~ Downloadable Choral Anthems * Solos * Orchestrations * Worship Songs * Accompaniment Trax

All six of our boys with Dad, celebrating Logan’s ‘Buzz Lightyear’ birthday.

Six boys? Yes, we do have six boys. Life at our house is lively, noisy, and messy. It’s also a lot of fun! Our boys range in age from six to eighteen. Our oldest, Jared, just graduated from High School in May. Our 12 year old, Zachary, is entering Middle School in August. Our 9 year old, Braden, will be in third grade this year. His younger twin brothers, Austin and Camden, will be in first grade at the same Elementary School. Then, there’s our Logan. Logan is eight years old and in a third grade Moderate Autism class at another Elementary School. All of our boys are unique, and each one is infinitely precious to us and to God. They came to us by birth and by adoption, and love for each of them was born in our hearts long ago.

Our five younger boys sit with Dad on a bench at the Railroad Museum. They are (left to right) Camden, Braden, Dad (Travis), Zachary, Logan, and Austin.

Travis and I are older parents. We are both in our mid-fifties, and it is a challenge for us to keep up with our crew. They make us laugh and smile and cry and wonder. Sometimes, they make us crazy! They challenge us to keep becoming the best parents that we can be for them. In spite of our status as “experienced” parents, it takes all that we are to be anywhere close to what they need us to be. The needs can be overwhelming. We take life one moment at a time. We enjoy holding sticky little hands. We love hugs from boys of all sizes. We treasure special moments. 🙂 We don’t buy expensive things for most rooms in our house (whats the point?). We have the benefit of years to know that seasons of life fly by. We seek to savor and to survive.

Our six boys hiked to a waterfall with Dad and relatives in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in July, 2011. Braden is in front in the black shirt. Our soon to be Middle Schooler, Zach, is behind him in the red shirt. First grade twins Camden and Austin are beside each other in the red caps. Logan is wearing a yellow shirt, and big brother Jared is in blue.

It’s impossible not to notice our family when we are out in public. We get lots of comments. Many references are made to the fact that we could have our own sports team. Some people ask, “No girls?” or “All boys?’. Some people ask if we are their grandparents, and one even told us that we should “stop trying for a girl.” Actually, we do have a daughter. She’s 31 and married and lives in Texas. The one question that people ask (right in front of the boys) that really bothers me is, “Are they all yours?”. The answer we give (with a big smile) is “Yes!”. We feel that it is inappropriate to ask about how God chose to make us a family in public and in front of the children, especially when some of our boys are so young. We never want to be unkind in our response; but our first priority is our children and their emotional well-being, as well as their readiness for any type of discussion. The curious people who ask about the gift of our children have no way of knowing whether each of the children has a full understanding of concepts such as birth parents or adoption. They are not thinking about the children at that moment. They are only seeking an answer to their question, and that is the only answer we feel the need to give. “Yes!” is the answer. Yes, they are all ours! Definitely, unequivocably, undeniably, and joyfully OURS!

Dad and GradOur high school grad, Jared, poses with Dad after the ceremony.

I’m sure that those who know us best see that we are trying with all that we are to be the best parents that we can be for our boys. They also have to see that we fall short of perfection by miles and miles. Sometimes, people who have not been around us as much but do know our family view us as Super Parents. We’re not. We are all too human and flawed. We are just parents who have a lot of boys and are doing our best, with God’s help, to help them become who God made them to be. Sometimes, people ask me how I keep up (with them, with laundry, with everything). There’s a simple answer to that question. I don’t. I find myself always behind on something. If I work on a time-consuming project like switching clothing sizes for a new season for all of the boys, I get behind on laundry. When I am catching up laundry and mending and picking up, I get behind on other things. We survive. We do the best we can. Travis is wonderful at pitching in on whatever needs to be done, and we are in this together. We are definitely not super parents. We are just normal parents of a grown daughter and six wonderful boys who have an awesome God.

Today is a special day. Travis has devoted several hours this week to listening to the “Preparing for Adolescence” CD series with our Zach before he begins Middle School. They are on an outing today, listening to CDs on the way to their destinations. They will go to Six Flags over Georgia and then spend the night in a nearby hotel. This one-on-one time will allow them to finish the appropriate CDs and talk. The other 5 boys and I are at home. I have promised them a special treat for while Dad and Zach are gone. Tonight, we are having Super Heroes Night at the Boyd house. The boys will dress up in costumes and have all kinds of super fun. We will probably watch a movie together, too. They are so excited and can’t wait for our super night.

Camden asked me what super hero I was going to be. I thought for a moment and then replied with a flourish, “SuperMom!” (singing my own fanfare) “Daht dah dah DAAAH!”

The decision to ask Jesus to come into your heart and life as your Lord and Savior is the best decision you could ever make! The one true God is ready to give you forgiveness and eternal life as soon as you understand your need for Him and believe on the name of His only Son, Jesus, for your salvation.

Comments on: "Six Boys and a SuperMom" (3)

We are so happy to hear of your blog, and I can hardly wait to read more. Your 6 boys are indeed precious, and so very blessed! You will always be Super Parents in my eyes, because our Heavenly Father just made you that way!! Bless you– Carolyn Scheer